Warnaq prevails for Matthew Smith

The last time Warnaq won on the flat for Kilmessan trainer Matthew Smith it gave Colin Keane his 100th winner of the season at Naas last November.

That was the day Keane was crowned champion jockey for the first time and on that day, Keane was also on the mark with Inscribe for his boss Ger Lyons with what was his 99th winner.

Today at Navan both horses were running on the flat (in the same race) for the first time since that day at Naas with Keane on board Inscribe, but on this occasion he had a good view of the rear end of Warnaq as Smith's horse won the one-mile handicap by  six lengths.

Crucially, since then, Warnaq has a few outings over hurdles since Naas, a point not lost on the trainer.

"We thought the mile here on this ground could be suitable, she loves to bowl along and I suppose she was fit from hurdling during the winter," stated Smith who is based on the road from Kilmessan to Kiltale - Lyons is based at the end of that road.